Bogota, Nov 30 (IANS/EFE) The rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has released a top-ranking military officer and two other hostages Sunday, the country’s President Juan Manuel Santos revealed.
Gen. Ruben Dario Alzate, corporal Jorge Rodriguez and attorney Gloria Urrego were kidnapped by the rebels Nov 16 from northwestern Colombia.
The three released individuals are “in perfect condition” and it is expected that they will be reunited with their families soon, President Santos said in a Twitter post.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is overseeing the hostages’ release, has not issued a statement.
The Red Cross normally does not comment on these types of operation until the people being released are handed over to the army, indicating that Alzate, Rodriguez and Urrego may be on their way to a military base in Choco province, where the release occurred.
The three are expected to be flown from the base to Bogota, where they will undergo more extensive medical examinations.
President Santos suspended the peace talks with the insurgents following the abduction of Alzate, Rodriguez and Urrego.
A few days later, the two sides agreed on conditions for freeing the hostages as soon as possible, in order to pave the way for the resumption of negotiations to end the conflict in Colombia.
–IANS/EFE
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